During a recent run, I remembered and reveled in how much I love the smell of leaves on the ground. The more I thought about it, the more I realized that this is actually the smell of death, decomposition, and transmutation. It’s the smell of nature’s last exhale for this cycle and a symbol of its time of rest and regeneration.
To me, it’s a perfect example of how important a mindful movement practice is. It serves as a necessary balance to high impact or dynamic workouts, as well as the general expectation that we always be “on,” productive, and available in our professional and personal lives. We need the balance in a movement practice that provides rest and regeneration so that we avoid burnout and/or injury.
Your body will eventually force you in one way or another to slow down. Rather than resist the rest part of a cycle what happens when you embrace and enjoy it?
As you know, we’ve been going through our own process of transmutation here at The Co. Just a few months ago, we announced an expansion to our offerings that include more healing modalities and create accessibility in the way of duets, customized small group classes in our Pilates Party, Corporate Wellness workshops, and Reiki energy healing sessions.
(Remember that you can always email us if you’re interested in learning more! Plus, any current client who refers someone to these new offerings can receive an extra session to their package if the referral signs up.)
This month, I would like to highlight our new Reiki offerings. I received my first round of Level 1 training in Reiki from Marilyn Vega in 2012. I was attracted to it after several healing sessions with her and felt it was a powerful way for me to understand my energetic and emotional body more.
I approached my training as a way to take care of myself; after only 2.5 years in New York, I was still adjusting to the city, how it affected me, and all the energy I used working long hours one on one with people. I used it as a way to stay balanced, learn more about my subtle body, and go deeper into what I understood about my body, well beyond the physical.
My second round of training came from one of my mentors, Victoria Libertore, in Level 1 and Level 2 on my birthday in 2018. Since learning more about the origin and lineage of Reiki, and how it came to be more widely practiced in the west, I have come to appreciate even more how this simple practice opens doors for clarity, peace, and agency in the body and mind. These are forms of deep healing, as they can majorly shift our perspectives and our relationship to ourselves and our identities. While I’ve integrated Reiki into my mindful movement sessions here and there for a while, this year has called me to step out of my shell more and offer this practice more fully.
All current clients have a complimentary session available to them if they would like to learn more, or you can gift it to a family/friend in need of extra support.
Client Spotlight
Today we are celebrating a client that came to us with chronic back pain. Her experience of it felt mysterious and frustrating, as there never seemed to be a connection between what she did in her body and the pain she felt. Our work together was encouraging because she almost always felt better and lighter afterwards. When the pandemic hit and she relocated to another state, she was unsure if online sessions would work for her but was open to trying.
We get so excited talking about her work since transitioning online because it’s truly amazing what she has been able to work through and progress into!
In one of her recent sessions, she expressed joy in realizing that her body will not always respond to the same formula of exercise prescription the same way. Now she has greater knowledge of what movement and exercises she can explore to find relief from discomfort outside of our sessions. She finally feels like she has agency in and a relationship with her body that is actually like a dialogue rather than constant interruption.
Pilates and Sex
I took some time to sit down and chat with sexologist Liz Mallers about what Pilates/mindful movement and sexual health have to do with each other, how pain can often inform us more than pleasure, and how we aim to be part of the shift that helps clients use pleasure as their guide in their bodies and their evolution. Watch part 1 here and part 2 here.
#WitchyWednesday
Our next Witchy Wednesday Women's Circle is coming up on Wednesday, November 18 at 8:00pm EST.
This month, we are circling up just after the new moon in Scorpio on Saturday, November 14th. This means there will be the slightest sliver of light shining on themes of Scorpio, the Death card, the Phoenix, and the highest self version of the Emperor archetype.
Together, we will breathe in the last fall breezes as we prepare for Winter Solstice and honor all the shadow work we’ve done to prepare for shorter days and longer nights. This slower and darker time in the moon cycle matches this time in our seasonal cycle. We are finishing up our harvesting for the year, enjoying that harvest, and preparing for next year's crop.
In addition to this symbolic cyclical reflection, we are simply coming together this month to hold space and support each other. To say that it was a turbulent start to the month is an understatement. My hope is that this Witchy Wednesday will provide a moment of solace and rejuvenation for the undeniable work we still collectively have ahead of us, including how we can support VoteForward’s next round of organizing to mobilize voting in Georgia’s special election.
Workshops With The Alchemist’s Kitchen
I am truly ecstatic to share that I’ll be partnering with The Alchemist’s Kitchen to lead two workshops in November:
Moving Through The Chakras on Saturday, November 14th at 10:00 AM EST
Mindful Movement For Better Sex on Saturday, November 21st at 10:00 AM EST
Be sure to secure your spot now that registration is open.
Referral Program
A referral is the kindest compliment you could give us. If you think we would be a good fit for anyone you know, please consider spreading the word about the work we do together. For any new clients that may come our way as a result of your kind words, we would love to gift you an additional session to any current package you have with us. They can always schedule a call using the link below.
And, if you are part of or know a social justice organization looking for wellness support and collaboration for their clients or employees, please consider connecting us.